The annual Mimir Chamber Music Festival returns to Melbourne next month after completing its 21st season in Fort Worth, Texas. The Festival features musicians from North America’s most accomplished orchestras, Grammy Award-nominated recording artists and faculty members from the best music conservatories in the United States and Australia.

In addition to public performances at Melba Hall, Mimir guest musicians will mentor students from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and secondary schools from across Victoria in a range of masterclasses, tutorials, and demonstrations.

Felix Pascoe, Lauren Jennings and Nathania Camargo, students from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Photo by Giulia McGauran.

Dr Curt Thompson, Associate Professor of Music (Violin) and Head of Strings at the Melbourne Conservatorium, explained that providing exceptional educational experiences for future generations of Australian musicians is a key component of the festival.

“From the outset in 1998, mentorship has been a central focus of Mimir,” he said. ” =The process of training to become a professional musician includes hours upon hours of work with teachers, in the practice room and in ensembles. Mimir offers a unique experience in which, in a quartet setting, Melbourne Conservatorium students and others from around the city are engaged in intensive instruction that opens their ears and minds to the possibilities [of chamber music].

“The equal emphasis on our public performances and the training of young musicians really sets Mimir apart from other festivals. The guest artists understand what mentors have done to help them achieve some of the most coveted positions in the world, and I think Mimir offers a means of paying that back for future generations.”

The Mimir Chamber Music Festival, named for the Norse god of wisdom, began in Fort Worth, Texas in 1998. Mimir expanded to Australia in 2013, where it has been hosted annually by the Melbourne Conservatorium since. Find out more.

Masterclasses and student performances are free and open to the public.